Police in North Yorkshire today urged missing Jeff and Jennifer Bramley to give themselves up - for the sake of the two little girls they say they love. As the search for the missing family intensified, Det Sgt Bryan Redshaw, of York police, said if the couple really loved five-year-old Jade Bennett and her little sister Hannah, three, they would come forward.

He told the Evening Press: "Four months is a long time for two kids like that to be running around the country. They need a more stable life. The only way they will get that is if the Bramleys now come forward. We understand their fears and worries and accept that they have been away for a long time. But if they really care about Jade and Hannah they should give themselves up."

Police believe there is still a real chance the family could be in hiding somewhere in North Yorkshire - although a search is also under way in Nottinghamshire after the Bramleys posted letters to local and national media with a Notts postmark.

DS Redshaw said: "There was a good sighting in Pickering. It is quite possible they are still in this area. We would urge people to continue to be vigilant and to contact police if they see anyone they think could be the family."

Mrs Bramley's brother, Dave Bodle, 37, a civil servant from Colchester, Essex, today made a direct appeal to his sister to get in touch with relatives for help in resolving the situation.

Speaking on GMTV he said: "What we need you to do is make contact with any member of our family so we can begin to tell you of all the help and support available to you, so we can all move together as a family."

He urged social services officials in Cambridgeshire to review their adoption decision - and questioned why they had only just revealed that Mr Bramley had once been in care.

Social services in Cambridgeshire confirmed today Jeff Bramley had lied to them when applying as a foster child by not revealing that when he was 15 he had spent time in care.

Bob Pearson of Cambridge Social Services said: "We are not suggesting that because you've been in care you cannot become a foster carer. What is worrying is that he was not truthful."

He added they were increasingly worried about the effects on the two young girls of their fugitive lifestyle.

Anyone with information about the Bramleys is urged to contact Cambridgeshire police on 01480 422948.

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